Button-fastener



UNITED STATES FNIENR @Fricn.

CHARLES L. FARNSVVORTH, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

BUTTON-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,730, dated July 3, 1883,

(No model.)

To all whom, it 17mg concern;

Be it known that 1, CHARLES L. FAnNs- .WORTH, of Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Button-Fasteners; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention consists in the button-fastening" device hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is' an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. at represents the device with a button in process of insertion. Fig. 5 pre sents views illustrating the action of the fast ener upon the foot. y

The object of my invention is to provide an adjustable fastener adapted to secure buttons firmly upon shoes, gloves, and general clothing without injury to the fabric, which may be readily disengaged from the button and the fabric, and again adjusted therein whenever it may be desired. I accomplish this result by constructing a fastener of one continuous piece of spring-wire, bent in a suitable shape to form afirm flat surface to constitute abrace or guard for the under surface of the leather or other fabric, the two ends being then "B and B represent the shank of the fast-- ener,constructed of the two ends of the continuous piece of wire bent upward perpendicular to the base, and twisted about each other,

the base, and I therefore prefer ahalf or a full twistin other words, such a twist as shall unite the wires firmly at the base of the shank and leave the plane of the hooks in the direc tion of the length of the base. The two ends of the wire are each terminated in a hook, C and O,'standing side by side, the hooks being turned in opposite directions and free at their lower ends.

D is the fabric. -E is the eye of the button.

It is evident that the shank B and B is adapted to pass through a single hole in the fabric, and that by pressing the eye of the button between the two hooks G and C it may be readily engaged therewith. It is also evident that the eye of the button may be readily disengaged from the hooks of the fastener without impairing the same. In this manner the button can be removed and readjusted, as may be desired. i

It is obvious that the under surface of the fastener will form an easy-setting guard when worn upon the person.

I am aware that a button-fastening has been made of a solid fiat plate of metal having oppositely-hooked arms projecting from its opposite sides, and bent back toward each other, and projecting side by side from the surface of the plate, so as to form a shank to engage the eye of the button; but I donot claim a fastening so constructed. It is obvious that such a fastening cannot have the strength and durability of a fastening made of a springwire in the manner herein described. Moreover, the open base of my device allows it to yield more readily and accommodate itself to the person.

I am also aware that various devices have been made of wire, and that a single piece of wire has been formed into an open base or guard, the two ends then bent perpendicular to the base and terminated in hooks turned in opposite directions; nor do I claim a fastening so constructed, as such a device does not have the shanks twisted about each other. I have discovered that such a twist as I have described is quite essential to the efficiency of the fastening. The twist keeps the fastening from springing apart after the button is en- T of the hooks perpendicular to the length of gagged therewith. It also prevents the hooks from opening below the base of the shanks. \Vithout the twist the button is liable to work loose, and the base is almost surely sprung open and permanently distorted by inserting the button-lo0p; but by my improvement the shank of the fastener is made firmer and holds the eye of the button without liability of accidental displacement, and with no danger of distorting the base, as above explained. The twist causes a firmer spring to the shank, and thereby makes the fastening stronger and more reliable. So, also, when the shank goes straight up from the base without the twist, the hooks, after the fastening has been used for a while, are apt to slide past each other in their own plane, thus rendering the device in secure. By my device this difficulty is en tirely remedied. Moreover, the twist permits the fabric to dome in closer to the shank of the fastener, diminishing the size of the hole required in the fabric. Moreover, the twisting of the shanks so their plane shall stand at right an gles or across the length of the base, as I have described to bepreierable, prevents the tilting of the base and consequent hurting of the foot or person. 11 the hooks extend in the direction of the width of the base, when applied, for instance, to a shoe, the base would naturally rest lengthwise of the foot, as shown at a in Fig. 5, and the strain of the button would cause the base to roll over and its edge to irritate the foot. By giving the extre1nities, however, a sufficient twist to bring the hooks into the direction of the length of the base, as shown at a in Fig. 5, the 8-shaped base lies in a direction across the foot, and thus affords a greater leverage against any tilting action, and so is easier upon the foot.

\Vhat I claim is As an improved article of inanuiacture, the herein-deseribed buttondastener, consisting of a single piece of wire bent to form a base, with its extremities twisted about each other over the base after the same formed, said extremities beyond the twist terminating in hooks, which stand side by side with their ends turned in opposite directions, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES L. liAltNSlVOl-tlll.

\Vitnesses:

N. S. \Vnionir, \VITJ'JI'AM F. Form. 

